President Donald Trump said Friday that Chinese President Xi Jinping indicated he is seriously weighing the release of Pastor Ezra Jin, an underground church leader imprisoned in China since October. Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump described the conversation as a direct appeal for clemency.
“I think he’s giving very serious consideration to the pastor,” Trump said. “He said he’s giving very serious consideration to that.”
Jin was arrested last fall for his role leading the Zion Church, an unregistered Christian congregation. Chinese authorities also detained other church staff and members in a crackdown on religious activity outside state-sanctioned channels.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio has publicly called for Jin’s “immediate release,” and Trump said last week he would raise the case during his meeting with Xi. The president’s remarks suggest the issue gained traction in high-level talks, even as broader tensions persist between Washington and Beijing over trade, technology, and regional security.
On the question of Hong Kong media mogul Jimmy Lai, Trump struck a more cautious tone. Lai, a prominent critic of the Chinese Communist Party, was convicted late last year on charges of conspiring to collude with foreign forces and publishing seditious material.
“That’s a tougher one. I did bring it up,” Trump said. “He told me and I don’t want to mislead anybody. He said Jimmy Lai is a tough one for him. Right or wrong they went through a lot.”
Trump added that Xi reiterated his willingness to “strongly consider” Jin’s case, but offered no similar commitment on Lai. The distinction highlights the diplomatic calculus Beijing faces: Jin’s case centers on religious freedom, while Lai is seen as a direct challenge to party authority and national security.
The exchange comes amid a fraught period in U.S.-China relations. Trump has previously denied seeking favors from Xi on Iran during their Beijing summit, and the two leaders have clashed over Taiwan and trade. The pastor’s release, if granted, could signal a rare area of cooperation, though Trump’s comments suggest no breakthrough on Lai or other political detainees.
Human rights groups have pressed the administration to prioritize cases like Jin’s and Lai’s, arguing they test Washington’s commitment to democratic values. For now, Trump’s readout points to a cautious step forward on Jin, while leaving deeper disputes unresolved.
